Age of Heroes

There is desperation in her tones, a yearning. Xiyun has bet everything on Arial. She knew she would be called a traitor to the Sect but what have the sect done for her? 

Nothing. And she knows the real reason why the Abbess took her and her sister to the Ermeishan before. 

It was the bandits. 

The bandits were actually one of the Abbess plans to terrorize the Wuhao clan and coincidentally they were in the path of the headquarters of the Wuhao sect. 

One way to look at it, it was the Abbess that is responsible for the murder of her parents. 

And Xiyun also knows that due to her sister talent in martial arts the Abbess teach her the Demon Heart Claws technique. 

A forbidden technique that even change the soul of even the purest person. 

And luckily, she was not bestowed martial art talent like her sister or maybe even she would receive the same treatment. 

It is this reason why she so hated the Abbess. She knows all about the Righteous sect. They are all hypocrites. 

They say one thing, and do another. 

Before she has never seen any way to release herself from the clutches of the Abbess but now she has found a sliver of hope. 

She did not show herself to be skillful, fearing that the Abbess would take notice of her. Neither did she practice the Ermeishan technique. 

She tries to create her own skills but always met with failure and sometimes even internal injury. 

So, she bided her time. And now an opportunity from heaven presented itself. Surely if it's him, he can teach her to defeat the Abbess. 

Maybe not now but someday, when he finds that she is worthy of his trust maybe he will impart some powerful technique to her. 

Arial looked at the girl. He didn't know how to respond. There must be something else. Why would suddenly this girl wanted to join his school? 

'There must be a deeper reason. Tell me your story.'

'My story?'

'Yes, your story. Everybody have a story to tell. The stars have one and the mountain also have their stories. So…. you must also have yours. They must be a reason why you are doing this. Tell me your story and only then I will decide whether I will accept you as my disciple.'

'I…I..'she hesitated and Arial sighed and then he just gestured with his hand

'Leave' Arial said as he was about to get up from his seat

'Wait!' she said. 

'I will tell you.'

Then hesitantly, Xiyun tell her story while Arial just listen, not once he interrupts Xiyun. He just listens. 

And sometimes that enough.

Then after she tells all of her life story, her motivations and her reason why she wanted to learn his martial arts, with tears streaming out of her eyes, releasing all of her pent up feeling, telling Arial all of the injustice she has endured, the vengeance that is burning in her heart, the story of how her older sister is being manipulated, telling all this and more, finally the story ended

And inside that house, there is only silence. The sound of the wind and the crackling of fire finally once again brought sound into the house and Arial close his eyes for a second then opens it once again

She waited. Because that is the only thing she could do right now. She had to wait for Arial verdict

Not once she lied, nor she altered her story, her sincerity and honesty is revealed, of a tragic life living under the mastermind of her parent's killers.

Arial remain impassive, his face is unreadable. It seems Arial initial hunch about the sect in the martial art world is true. 

They are a lot of similarities between the sect and the faction. There are in some way resembles noble courts. 

They wear a mask of civility but do underhanded things when people are not looking. 

About the claim that the Abbess is the one who is behind her parent killing Arial knows such claim will never hold up. 

But Arial did not doubt the sincerity of the girl in front of him. Her eyes, her tones all indicates that she is telling the truth. 

Arial knows people. Then he thought again about Kyle and Helia. And he reminded himself. 

'I know about some people. Not all…. not all.'

He still didn't know if the decision he takes is the right one but he needed to do it. He needs to be sure. 

He must not judge. Not yet. He….is still in love with her. 

And when in love, Arial recognize the capacity to forgive and he already is preparing to handle that matter when he returns. 

In the end, the decision has always been in Helia hands. Arial long lives teach him something. 

There are many form of love and he wanted to make sure about something. It is her choice. 

Before. Now. And into the future. 

In the end the decision depends on Helia. Xiyun is looking at Arial, lost in his thoughts. And then after contemplating for a while, he said. 

'Fine. I will accept you as my disciple. You are the first disciple of All Conquering Sect so take care not to make my life to difficult.' 

The kneeling Xiyun is overjoyed and she once again bow her head to the ground. 

'Truly?'

'Yes. I do not take back my words. Remember don't bring to much trouble for me' Though Xiyun is a bit shocked. 

Most sect will say don't dishonor the sect reputation but he said don't bring to much trouble to him.

'You will call me teacher and I will call you whatever I wanted. Can you accept that condition?' 

'Yes teacher!' Xiyun replied energetically

'Good. Now get up and pay your respect.' 

Arial sat on the ground and coiled his legs beneath himself. 

'I, Mu Xiyun pay respect to teacher Arial as the first disciple of All Conquering Sect. I will do to my utmost to respect and honor the rules of the sect and –' 

'Alright that is enough. That is counted as paying your respect.' 

Baffled Xiyun stopped. 

'Alright. I am your teacher and you are my disciples. My name is Arial Vermont, from House of Vermont in Arrandy, a prince of Aetherland. Hearing your story make me think you want to be strong or at least strong enough to fight that Abbess, right?' 

'Yes, teacher.' 

'Hmph. That Abbess is not so powerful. I can teach you to defeat her. Give me your hand.' 

Xiyun blushed like a young girl getting a present on her nameday.

'Teacher?' 

'Give me your hand.' 

Xiyun give Arial her hand shyly. 

She has never been touched by a man before, since Ermeishan disciple are forbidden to meet a man at least when they are in Ermeishan or before they reach thirty. 

So, to Xiyun this act of holding her hand and not only the act but also the fact that she did not dislike it, an act of such a young man, and her teacher she reminded herself make her heart beats furiously. 

'Now, activate your Internal energy.' 

Looking at her teacher face, she complies immediately. It seems Arial is trying to determine something. 

Then slowly he releases his touch on Xiyun hand. 

'You have weak internal energy.' 

'Ye..s. Will that be a problem, teacher?' Xiyun drops her head. 

'Problem? Not at all. While it is true the Abbess and the rest of the people in the tournament are hundred notches more powerful than you in terms of internal energy, so what! I can teach you to surpass your Abbess in three years.' 

'Three years!' 

'Yes, three years. However, you must forget all that you have learn before. Disregard the other teaching. Our school technique is pure. It is the ocean. Not the rivers that flow, not a drop of water in the ocean. It is the ocean itself. I did not make a manual or tome for anyone to learn since I always learn it by myself.' 

'So will you make a manual for me?' 

'No' he said his face is stern. 

'Why should I do that? What if it falls to the wrong hand? That technique is the pillar which all my technique sprang from.' 

'Forgive me teacher.' She said kneeling again. 

Arial then look regretful. 

'I'm sorry that I get angry.' 

'It is alright. I am used to it.' 

'No person should be accustomed to yelling and especially not a woman, as young as you.' He said regretfully. Xiyun looked at her teacher and chuckled slightly.

Then Arial look at the full moon and sighed. 

'Since I have accepted you as my disciple, tomorrow sent a letter to Ermeishan that you have leave your sect for mine. '

'Yes, teacher.' Quickly Xiyun race outside 

'Where are you going?' 

'I will bring my belongings here.' 

'Oh, fine. Come here before dawn. The door will be open. If you do not return before that time, I will close the door.' Xiyun nodded and smile.

Xiyun after leaving Arial house quickly using her hiding technique return to her rooms, sneak outside with her belonging while leaving a letter in the table near her bed. 

A new journey begins for her.

>>>>>>>>>>